The jug is 12 inches tall and weighs 1.5 pounds, the glass is 5 inches tall and weighs 4 ounces. No makers marks.

It seems, at least to me, a quality piece; a classical, elegant shape with a very nice amber gold or ruby colour (depends on light).I believe it to be free blown, there are no mould marks and it has the individuality that comes with a hand made piece.

In fact, it may have too much individuality:- there is a noticeable asymetry to the shoulders and the top of the handle is not square with the spout.- there are air inclusions in the glass- there are wavy striations in the glass at the shoulder probably caused when the gather or parison was rolled and shaped- the base of one of the glasses (there are 4 extant) is not square and it will rock very slightly

Any information as to make, age and purpose will be greatly appreciated.

Hope you also have the stopper because it will be almost impossible to find a matching one. It needs a pointed one - not a ball stopper.The stem screams Italy - more specifically Empoli, the glass making area near Florence.The shape is often called an "etruscan" ewer.Timewise think sixties/ seventies

I have been trying to put it into some kind of time and cultural context- what was it's purpose? (it's extemely impractical)- why the disparity between the intent (design and colour) and the the flaws in the realization?

The possibility that it was created primarily as a souvenir simply never occurred to me.

The shoddy quality had no particular meaning nor purpose. The decanter had a ground stopper so it would close properly and was intended for whatever you'd like to put in - Grappa being the most likely poison.